OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue XII, 23 March 1901, Page 540

OUR ILLUSTRATIONS.

REV. C. H. GARLAND.

PRESIDENT OF THE NEW ZEALAND WESLEYAN METHODIST CONFERENCE.

The Ki v. C. H. Garland has been a minister of the Wesleyan Methodist Church in New Zealand for twenty years. His father - (now verging on his 81st year) has occupied the position of Seamen’s Missionary in London, under the direction of the Wesleyan Conference, for forty-six years. Hu is the author of some popular volumes, full of thrilling incidents, on his lifework among British seamen; and no one is held in higher esteem by those hardy makers of Empire than is the venerable father of this sketch. The Rev. C. H. Garland received his college training for the ministry in England, and on his arrival in New Zealand was placed in charge of the Northeim Wairoa circuit. The next year he was selected by the Rev. W. Morley as his locum tenens in the St. Albans circuit, while Mr Morley himself travelled the colony in the interests of the Church Building and Loan Fund. Since that time Mr Garland has received appointments to some of the most important circuits in the colony. During his term at New Plymouth the building of the beautiful Whiteley Memorial Church was undertaken and brought to a successful completion. Mr Garland's pulpit utterances are of an attractive and popular character. They are marked by a bright and rational optimism, felicity of expression, beauty and aptness of illustration. Mr Garland was chosen by the Conference of 1899 to till the important position of General Secretary of the Century Commemoration Fund- In the interests of this movement he has visited most of the circuits and churches in New Zealand, and has secured amounting to between £17,000 and £lB,OOO. More than £ll,OOO of this sum has already been paid over to the General Treasurers. The annual Conference, now being held in this city, has conferred upon Mr Garland the highest honour at its disposal. By a practically unanimous vote he has been elevated to the presidency, and he has our best wishes for a bright and prosperous year of office.

THE REV. ROBERT HADDEN, TAHUPOTIKI,

a young half-caste clergyman, who is one of the most zealous workers the Weselyans have amongst the Maoris in Taranaki. Mr Hadden speaks English fluently, having been educated at the Three King’s College, and he has powers of description that many an Englishman might envy. His mother was a pure Maori of high lineage, who had been brought up by the old missionaries. She was a Wesleyan, but had married a white man at Hokianga. She brought up her children well, and tried to keep them away from the bushmen and sailors who made Hokianga in the old kauri timber trading days a pandemonium with their constant fighting and drunkenness. On his mother’s death he and his two young brothers had been set adrift. They wandered away to his mother’s people, who received them gladly. The recollection of what, his mother had taught him made, life at Parihaka revolting to him. Subsequently he met Mr Hammond, the missionary, who conceived a great affection for him, and caused him to be educated. Mr Hadden, on his mother’s side, is a. grand nephew of the celebrated warrior Titokowaru.

REV. D. J. MURRAY,

Secretary of the New Zealand Wesleyan Methodist Conference.

The Rev. D. J. Murray arrived in New Zealand in 1879. His ministry was exercised in England before leaving for this colony, Brighton being his last circuit in the Old Land. Reaching Dunedin in time for the annual Conference of 1880, lie was received and appointed by that Conference to a circuit. His talents as a careful and painstaking administrator were soon made manifest; and. under his pastoral oversight and good management his several circuits have enjoyed a large measure of prosperity. His pulpit deliverances are instructive and edifying, giving evidence of wide reading and studious preparation. On removing from Lyttelton, he took charge of the Thames circuit, where he is now stationed. Mr Murray's business aptitude was early taken advantage of in Synod and Conference. and he has rendered most acceptable service by the part he has taken in the procedure of those church courts. On six occasions Mr Murray has been elected to the im- * portant office of Secretary of the Conference, and the prompt and efficient manner in which he has discharged the onerous duties of his office has won from time to time the warm thanks of his lay and ministerial brethren. Mr Murray is regarded as one of the coming men for whom in due time still higher honours are in store. A TRIP TO WHITE ISLAND. White Island, or Whakari, an active volcano, lies in the Bay of Plenty, about 26 miles from the main land. It is about three miles in circumference, and 860 ft. high. The base of the crater is one and a-half miles in circuit, and level with the sea. In the centre is a boiling spring about 100 yards in circumference, sending volumes of steam 2000 ft. high in calm weather. The whole is.and is heated so as to make it difficult to walk. Sulphur can here be obtained in large quantities. No animal or insect breathes on the island, scarcely a limpet on the stones, and 200 fathoms will hardly reach the bottom within half-a-mile of its shores. This island is the eastern limit of that extensive belt of subterranean agitation which extends from Mount Egmont through Tongariro. the Taupo, and Rotomahana Lakes to Whale Island, north of which line earthquakes are very rarely felt. The foregoing from “Brett’s South Pacific Pilot,” gives but a vague idea of that wonderful and weird island which forms one of the few vent holes for that hidden power which makes itself felt in the form of earthquakes and the like; a place where the mighty forces of nature may be beholden, and man can only gaze on and wonder.

Come with us, and in fancy let us travel together the journey.

We left Auckland on Tuesday evening, March sth, at 5.30 p.m., and after a smart passage arrived at Tauranga the following morning at 8 o'clock. A short stay of •» hour and a-half allowed sufficit. ‘ime for a stroll up to the redoubt, where in the sixties during the Maori war, the inhabitants of Tauranga were wont to retreat when the enemy made themselves a little too obnoxious. A little further on we come to “God's acre,” where lie the remains of many of England's brave sons, who at the storming of the famous Gate Pah in the' vicinity, lost their lives. Our stay here was all too short to see the many charming spots that abound throughout the district. Safe on board oiiee again we are soon steaming along on a summer sea, with scarce a. ripple, the Mount is rounded, and the open sea regained. Merrily we go, and as evening closes o’er us, the bar at Opotiki is reached, where with the assistance of the beacon lights we safely cross the bar, and in a few minutes are snuglj - fastened to the wharf.

L T pon our present trip a race meeting was held upon Thursday, at which the majority of the natives from near and- far had gathered. A few snapshots here taken are presented upon another page. Friday was likewise a busy day, being devoted to the Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Her*

again the inevitable snaps had to be taken.

“Saturday morning a steamer will leave the port for White island at 8 a.m.” Thus at length our notice read, and we betook ourselves to the wharf, and found a goodly number all ready for the trip. After about four hours steaming we cast anchor, using 50 fathoms of cable. The getting ashore was the next thing, but the three boats soon fulfilled their duties. The island is open to the Pacific Ocean, and consequently there is a fair amount of roll even upon a calm day, and the duty of those in charge of the boats is no light one; but all are safely landed and a start is made for the sights. The rocks on the shore demand our attention, being piled high one upon the other by the action of the waves. We pass on and our senses are awakened by a strong smell of sulphur, which comes in clouds from the crater at the further end of the island, now come into view. The inside of the island is hollow, the sides only standing, and the centre is occupied by an immense lake of a green hue, due to the sulphur with which it is impregnated. This lake fills the whole of the basin inside, measuring many acres in extent, its length being over half-a-mile, with a breadth of about one quarter. Having corne so far we were determined to see all. On our way to the crater, the party resolved itself into a jingle file of visitors, creeping along the extreme edge of the lake, and sometimes wading in the green sulphury mass. The sight that met our gaze when we rounded a promontory was well worth any exertion. There ahead of us lay the centre of attraction of our visit. The more active members of the party had already got as near to the crater as they dared, and from our point of view, looked like flies buzzing about against the great background of steam belched forth from the monster. It has been asserted that could the power here running to waste be utilised, all the machinery in New Zealand could, with ease, be kept in constant motion. The sun beginning to descend and getting liehind the masses of steam, made a, magnificent, view for the beholders, a photo of which we reproduce wittt others in this issue. Words fail us in which to tell of the many wonders Nature here bestows, the rich colouring in the hills, reflecting back from side to side. Rumour has it that a native was asked to come upon a visit to this island: “No fear, he said, “priest, him say, tiapo too much there, him devil stop there, no fear.” Our stay of four hours upon the island was all too short when the whistle from the steamer called us back.

A curious thing in this visit was noticed, that the lake upon the island is rapidly rising, and even now rushes into the crater, only to be thrown out again immediately. Upon our last visit to White Island there was no lake at all. This was eight years ago. Who can tell what appearance the place will present a. few years hence? Our run back to Opotiki was done in good time, singing being indulged in by the passengers, of whom there were alxmt 300.

We left Opotiki again upon our homeward journey on Sunday morning by way of Tauranga, arriving in Auckland shortly after 8 on Monday. The trip throughout was a most enjoyable one, the officers and crew doing all in their power to assist the excursionists to have a jolly time. The Northern Steamship Company are to be commended for the admirable way in which all the arrangements were carried out. The manager, Mi- Ranson, accompanied the steamer, doing everything necessary for the well-being of those on board.

TAURANGA AND THE WAR. In next week’s issue of the “Graphic” there will appear a series of Tauranga scenes, including portraits of the men who have joined the Seventh Contingent, and the - crowd of citizens on the wharf, Tauranga, farewelling them. Intending purchasers of the “Graphic” should place their orders at once with Thomas E. Wayte, Tauranga, and D. H. McKenzie, T* Puke.